On Removing a Post

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_Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you._.jpg


Last week I posted an article from Christianity Today that denounced the president’s use of the Bible as a prop. Unfortunately, the comments on that post turned political—something I never want to happen on my page. 

I removed the post a few days ago, not because I disagreed with the content of the article, but because the political comments and subsequent “likes” by people I truly care about were hurting my heart.

But I do want to explain something. I hate politics, and my hatred of it is growing with every passing day. I find politics in this country to be divisive and deeply hurtful. 

What I love, however, is the word of God. I believe in it. I rely on it. I hope it’s evident in what I write that God’s word is the anchor of my life. 

I have a very high view of Scripture, so when I see the Bible paraded in front of cameras, not for “teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), but rather for a photo op, I find myself deeply offended, which is why I linked to the CT article in the first place.

I removed the post because I didn’t want to add to the division or the sadness I have felt in my own heart recently. What I hope for my little corner of social media and in what I write is to create a space that encourages others, not a place that adds to the political noise of our current landscape. So, because the comments turned in that direction, I removed that post.

This week I spent time reading Psalm 119, which stresses the importance of God’s word in everything. I was reminded that the word of God is:

  • a guard against sin (v. 9)

  • the bringer of LIFE (v. 25, 37, 50, 77, 88)

  • a guard against selfish gain (v. 36)

  • hope (v 81)

  • eternal (v. 90), 

  • the giver of wisdom (v. 98-100)

  • a lamp and a light (v 105)

  • and so much more. 

God’s word is instruction for living, training in righteousness, and the encourager of justice. Everything we need is found right there. 

Do I always get it right? Nope. Do I hold others to a higher standard than myself? Absolutely not. But my hope is that I would turn to God’s word before I turn to any other source to learn how to live rightly and to love my neighbor well.

Please know that I stand by my original intent when I linked to that article because the word of God is too important to be trivialized, especially today.

What God’s word is not is a political tool.